Port Willunga, South Australia

Port Willunga is a semi-rural suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.[1] It is known as Wirruwarrungga or Ruwarunga by the traditional owners, the Kaurna people, and is of significance as being the site of a freshwater spring said to be created by the tears of Tjilbruke, the creator being.[7]

Port Willunga
Adelaide, South Australia
Port Willunga beach
Port Willunga is located in South Australia
Port Willunga
Port Willunga
Coordinates35°15′37″S 138°27′47″E[1]
Population1,785 (SAL 2021)[2]
Postcode(s)5173
Time zoneACST (UTC+9:30)
 • Summer (DST)ACST (UTC+10:30)
LGA(s)City of Onkaparinga[1]
RegionSouthern Adelaide[3]
CountyAdelaide[4]
State electorate(s)Mawson[5]
Federal division(s)Mayo[6]
Suburbs around Port Willunga:
Gulf St Vincent Maslin Beach Maslin Beach
Gulf St Vincent Port Willunga Aldinga
Gulf St Vincent
Aldinga Beach		 Aldinga Beach Aldinga
FootnotesAdjoining suburbs[1]

The 2016 Australian census reported a population of 1,637 people.[8]

Port Willunga is located within the federal division of Mayo, the state electoral district of Mawson and the local government area of the City of Onkaparinga.[6][5][1]

Photograph of Port Willunga Beach in South Australia
Port Willunga Beach, South Australia

Port Willunga beach is one of the most photographed beaches in South Australia and is a popular wedding location featuring the remains of the old Port Willunga Jetty with its golden cliff faces, crystal clear waters and soft white sands.[9][10]

History
See also: History of Adelaide

Before the British colonisation of South Australia, the Port Willunga area, along with most of the Adelaide plains area and down the western side of the Fleurieu Peninsula, was inhabited by the Kaurna people. There is a significant site associated with the Kaurna Dreaming of the creator ancestor Tjilbruke, with a commemorative plaque at the Esplanade car park.[11]

The name Port Willunga was first introduced in 1850. The first export cargo of wheat was loaded from this location in February 1850, with speculation that a wharf would be built there in the future.[12] Mr C.T. Hewitt claimed to have been the first to raise the proposition of such a construction.[13] Residents petitioned for a jetty to be constructed there in 1852[14] and government tenders were invited for its construction in March 1853.[15] Difficulties raising money for the construction delayed its completion.[16][17] The jetty was constructed in stages, and was functional in 1853[18] with further works committed to the following year.[19] Tenders for the jetty extension were taken in August 1854.[20] Early exports from Port Willunga included slate, flour, bran and hay.[21]

Port Willunga was officially proclaimed a port of export in 1856 and again in 1861, then proclaimed a port of both import and export in 1865.[22]

In 1871 the jetty was placed under the care and management of the Aldinga District Council.[23] Jetty extensions of various cost and configuration were considered in December 1873.[24]

By the early 20th century, commercial shipping at Port Willunga had ceased, but the jetty remained in place and was used by fishermen, residents and holiday-makers visiting the area.

The timber jetty received heavy storm damage on multiple occasions, including in 1896,[25] 1906[26] and 1910.[27] Fears for its future followed further storm damage in 1914.[28] An assessment in 1915 deemed the jetty damaged beyond repair, and discussions of constructing a new jetty, purely for recreational use began.[29] In 1928, locals were still petitioning government to build a replacement jetty.[30]

Shipping incidents

The Cowry was grounded on reef south of Port Willunga on 31 December 1887.[31]

The Star of Greece was wrecked off Port Willunga on 12 July 1888,[32] and forms the subject of a book published a century later by Geoffrey Manning.[33]

See also

References
  1. "Search result for 'Port Willunga, SUB' with the following datasets selected - 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Counties', 'Local government Areas', 'SA Government Regions' and 'Gazetteer'". South Australian Government. South Australian Government. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Port Willunga (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  3. "Southern Adelaide SA Government region" (PDF). The Government of South Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  4. "Search result for "County of Adelaide, CNTY" with the following data sets selected - "Counties" and "Local Government Areas"". Property Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  5. "Mawson (Electoral district profile)". ELECTORAL COMMISSION SA. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  6. "Profile of the electoral division of Mayo (SA)". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. "Tjilbruke Dreaming Tracks". Kaurnaculture. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  8. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Port Willunga (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. "Southern Adelaide Wedding Venues". Adelaide Wedding Venues. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  10. Commission, corporateName=South Australian Tourism (11 January 2021). "Visit South Australia - feel stimulated, relaxed, and inspired". southaustralia.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  11. Malone, Gavin Damien Francis (2012). "Chapter 10: Kaurna Ancestor Being Tjilbruke: Commemorations". Phases of Aboriginal Inclusion in the Public Space in Adelaide, South Australia, since Colonisation (PhD). Chapter 10 PDF. Flinders University. Retrieved 17 November 2020. {{cite thesis}}: External link in |others= (help)
  12. "Local intelligence". South Australian Register. 8 February 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  13. "Willunga District Council". Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904). 13 May 1854. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  14. "Port Willunga". South Australian Register. 7 August 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  15. "The Government Gazette". South Australian Register. 18 March 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  16. "Willunga Jetty". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). 20 August 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  17. "Legislative Council". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). 8 September 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  18. "Hundred of Moorooroo. — District Councils Act". South Australian Register). 17 November 1853. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  19. "WILLUNGA DISTRICT COUNCIL". Adelaide Observer. 13 May 1854. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  20. "Advertising". Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858). 26 July 1854. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  21. "Conveyance of Produce from Tub Southern Districts". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). 17 October 1854. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  22. "Port Willunga". South Australian Register. 2 December 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  23. "PORT WILLUNGA JETTY". Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912). 9 June 1871. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  24. "Extension of Willunga Jetty". South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889). 2 December 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  25. "Port Willunga Jetty". Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931). 22 June 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  26. "DEPUTATION". Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931). 18 August 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  27. "Port Willunga Jetty Wrecked". Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931). 5 October 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  28. "Port Willunga Jetty". Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954). 18 July 1914. p. 14. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  29. "Port Willunga Jetty". Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929). 16 June 1915. p. 10. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  30. "Port Willunga Jetty". Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954). 14 April 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  31. "Stranding of the Cowry at Port Willunga". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). 2 January 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  32. "A Tragic Wreck". Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931). 22 March 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  33. "Book details shipwreck at Port Willunga". Times (Victor Harbor, SA : 1987 - 1999). 27 May 1988. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2020.

Further reading
  • Ash, A.; (2005), A nice place for a harbour or is it? Investigating a maritime cultural landscape: Port Willunga, South Australia, Maritime Archaeology Monographs and Reports Series No. 4, Department of Archaeology, Flinders University, South Australia ISSN 1832-326X, OCLC 69676875 . Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  • Manning, Geoffrey H.; (1988), The Tragic Shore; The Wreck of the Star of Greece and a History of the Jetties of Port Willunga, The National Trust of South Australia, Willunga Branch, Willunga. ISBN 0909378444 OCLC 27571965
  • Sexton, Rae; (1982), Before the wind: tracing the impact on a small community and shipping company by the shipwreck in 1888 of the 'Star of Greece', Australasian Maritime Historical Society, Magill, South Australia. ISBN 0959944834 OCLC 29003868
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